Pet Treat Testing Package

Analysis

The Pet Treat Package is a very popular analysis package for people looking to sell pet treats in the marketplace or online.

Many people wonder where to start when it comes to analysis. The recommended place to start is the

BASIC TREAT PACKAGE – $30

Analysis Includes:

Moisture

Crude Protein

Fat (acid hydrolysis)

Crude Fiber

Ash

Recommended Sample Size: Half a Pound

Pet Treat Producers:

AAFCO – All pet food labels require a guaranteed analysis on the label to advise the purchaser of the product’s nutrient content. At minimum, guarantees are required for minimum percentages of crude protein and crude fat, and maximum percentages of crude fiber and moisture. Source: petfood.aafco.org

Guaranteed Analysis is not a one-time analysis. Minimums and Maximums must be established through the process of testing several batches to ensure consistent results across a product. More detailed information can be found on petfood.aafco.org.

With a Midwest Laboratories account, all analysis information is stored online for clients to export and sort at any time. This really comes in handy for pet food producers to continue to monitor their process and assure their product meets the AAFCO Guaranteed Analysis requirements.

A typical pet treat report looks like the following:

All information is reported in percentages, along with appropriate reporting limits and methods used. The report is straightforward and easy to follow.

[Sample: Midwest Laboratories Pet Treat Report]

More information on AAFCO -Association of American Feed Control Officials.

All pet food labels require a guaranteed analysis on the label to advise the purchaser of the product’s nutrient content. At minimum, guarantees are required for minimum percentages of crude protein and crude fat, and maximum percentages of crude fiber and moisture. The only exception is for products that do not and are not intended to provide protein, fat or fiber (for example, vitamin and mineral supplements), in which case the product is exempt from guarantees for those components. In all cases, though, a moisture guarantee is required. Guarantees for other nutrients are normally voluntary, although additional guarantees may be required to support claims made on the label. For example, claims such as “with calcium” or “high in vitamin E” would require minimum calcium or vitamin E guarantees, respectively. Source petfood.aafco.org

AAFCO has no statutory authority to regulate pet products.

Rather, enforcement of violations is the purview of the state feed control officials, so companies must comply with each state’s requirements. While most states follow AAFCO model regulations, exact language and interpretation may differ between states. While these documents offer guidance that are helpful in the vast majority of states, it is the responsibility of the manufacturer to ensure compliance with individual state requirements.
Did you know?
AAFCO does not regulate, test, approve or certify pet foods in any way.

AAFCO establishes the nutritional standards for complete and balanced pet foods, and it is the pet food company’s responsibility to formulate their products according to the appropriate AAFCO standard.

For more information, contact a member of our Account/Client Services Team.